The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon made history on Friday night in Qatar at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament as they became the first ever African country to beat the Samba Boys from Brazil in Group G last round of matches.
The World’s best team were beaten by Cameroon but still topped Group G at World Cup 2022 while Cameroon bowed out despite Vincent Aboubakar’s late winner.
Cameroon needed a win to keep alive their hopes of progress but, just as it looked as if they had run out of time, Aboubakar produced a stunning header two minutes into added time to break the deadlock. The African side needed Serbia to take points off Switzerland, but the Swiss held on for a 3-2 win to claim second place in the section behind Brazil.
Brazil’s much-changed lineup still boasted plenty of attacking talent with Antony and Rodrygo running at the Cameroon backline and Gabriel Martinelli, making his first international start, forcing Devis Epassy to tip over his firm header from Fred’s cross.
That was largely as good as it got for Brazil before halftime though, with the clearest chance of the first 45 minutes falling Cameroon’s way.
Moumi Ngamaleu worked space on the left side and delivered a cross that Bryan Mbeumo attacked at the far post, connecting with a fierce downward header that Ederson sprang to his right to push away.
Aboubakar flashed a shot across goal soon after the restart but Epassy was then in the thick of the action, tipping pushing another Martinelli effort over before spilling Eder Militao’s effort, recovering to turn the ball behind.
Brazil continued to press as they sought to make it three wins from three, but Cameroon continued to deny them with a mixture of fortitude and fortune.
They needed more at the other end, however, and just as it looked as if they would come up short, Jerome Ngom Mbekeli sent in a pinpoint cross from the right that got the finish it deserved, Aboubakar guiding a perfect header into Ederson’s bottom corner.
With Brazil’s prospects suddenly in the balance they threw everything forward in the closing stages Martinelli and Bruno Guimaraes unable to convert gilt-edged chances. It mattered little, however, Cameroon heading home on the back of a memorable win while their opponents will face South Korea in the last 16.
Goals:
CMR — Aboubakar (90+2′)
Confirmed lineups:
Cameroon (4-3-3, right to left): 16. Epassy (GK) — 19. Fai, 4. Wooh, 24. Ebosse, 3. N’Koulou, 25. Tolo — 8. Anguissa, 15. Kunde (22. Ntcham 68′), 6. Ngamaleu (2. Ngom Mbekeli 86′) — 20. Mbeumo (12. Toko Ekambi 64′), 10. Aboubakar 13. Choupo-Moting.
Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Ederson (GK) — 13. Dani Alves, 14. Militao, 24. Bremer, 16. Alex Telles (4. Marquinhos 54′) — 8. Fred (17. Guimaraes 55′), 15. Fabinho — 19. Antony (11. Raphinha 79′), 21. Rodrygo (22. Ribeiro 55′), 26. Martinelli — 18. Gabriel Jesus (25. Pedro 64′).
By: D. N. A. MENSAH, Daily Mail GH /Follow the writer @SkipperWrites on Twitter
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